NEW DELHI (MarketWatch) -- Dunkin' Brands Group Inc.
DNKN, -0.59%
the U.S.-based doughnut and ice-cream seller, is betting big on emerging economies such as India to expand globally as it seeks to supplement growth in its home market.

"Emerging markets are attractive because they are growing very quickly, they've a fast-growing middle-class [population], and they love American brands," Chief Executive Nigel Travis said Wednesday. These markets will contribute a "disproportionate" part of the company's revenue in the future, he added.

Travis was at an event to launch the third Dunkin' Donuts store in India, where it plans to open between 80 and 100 such outlets over five years.

Dunkin' Donuts officially kicked off business in India earlier this month when a local joint venture between the U.S.-based company and India's Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd. (533155.BY) opened the first two stores in New Delhi.

Jubilant FoodWorks Chief Executive Ajay Kaul said the joint venture is aiming for 500 stores in 15 years.

Dunkin' Donuts' India foray is part of the company's broader strategy to expand in the Asia-Pacific region as it makes a bigger push into new markets abroad that are growing faster than the U.S. economy.

The company plans to locate in Asia a "disproportionate" number of the 350-450 outlets that it plans to open outside the U.S. this year, Travis said. He added that the company is also planning to enter Brazil this year.

The focus on emerging markets is important because the international expansion of its namesake brand has lagged behind the rest of the business.

Travis said India, China and Taiwan are among the economies in the Asia-Pacific region that are growing rapidly and have tremendous potential for western fast-food companies such as Dunkin' Brands.

Foreign food brands are eyeing opportunities to set up or expand their presence in India as a growing number of the middle-class population is eating out and spending more on beverages and processed foods.

India's cafe market, expected to grow to $680 million in annual sales by the end of March 2016 from last year's $190 million, has drawn international coffee retailers to the country.

Among them is Dunkin' Donuts' traditional rival Starbucks Corp., which plans to open its first store in the South Asian nation in August in partnership with India's Tata Global Beverages Ltd.

Dunkin' Brands also runs 473 Baskin Robbins ice-cream parlors in India through a franchise agreement with the Graviss Group.

The company, which has 80 Dunkin' Donuts and 120 Baskin Robbins outlets in China, aims to open 250 stores in the country over the next four years.

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